DelW
Established Member
- Joined
- 15 Jan 2015
- Messages
- 3,897
That's the only way I could think of to eliminate (or nearly) the issue raised by the OP, and I'd be very much against it. One of the advantages rail has over alternatives (coach or air*) is the flexibility to make or vary travel arrangements at short notice. I'm travelling today on a flexible walk-up ticket, even though cheaper advances were available, for exactly that reason.There is a solution to the issue raised by the OP, which is seat regulation so that no-one travels without a seat reservation. But does the possible danger from luggage blocking the exit justify such a change in rail travel arrangements? It reminds me of the calls for seat belts on trains after the Ufton Nervet accident.
IIRC various train operators tried all-reservation services during Covid (indeed I think some still make a pretence of it) and it was unpopular with many passengers. It would be an overreaction to the situation described, which may be annoying but is a low risk of actual harm to anyone.
(*I know there are flexible air tickets, but prices for those are prohibitive for most travellers.)